Xavier launches second annual Paper Airplane Day to support Children's Hospital Medical Center

The winning entry receives a $250 certificate toward air travel from AAA | November 30, 2011

At precisely 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1, students, faculty and staff launched a multitude of paper airplanes into the air of the Gallagher Student Center atrium. They floated around and down to the floor of the food court, and the one that landed closest to the center of the “X” on the floor won a $250 AAA gift certificate for air travel for its pilot.

It was all for a good cause. Paper airplane makers paid $1 for each sheet of recycled paper and made their own planes. All money raised goes to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to help bring patients to the pediatric oncology center. This year, University President Michael J. Graham, S.J., pledged to match funds raised by the student pilots.

The event is sponsored by Xavier’s Office of Interfaith Community Engagement and the Gallagher Student Center.

“Xavier students love to send paper airplanes flying into the four-story space of their student center,” says Joe Christman, director of the Gallagher Student Center. Last year, hundreds of students, staff and faculty folded and flew their paper creations.

Rabbi Abie Ingber, founding director of the Office of Interfaith Community Engagement and head of the Xavier Academic Pilots Association, counted down the launch of the airplanes toward the target. A guest judge determined the prize winner. Dr. Brian Turpin of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center was on hand to congratulate the winner and thank the participants. Cindy Wasson of AAA Travel presented the gift certificate to the pilot of the winning plane.